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Streamlined Permitting by Municipality

The municipalities in Spokane County demonstrate a customer-oriented, professional approach for meeting end-users’ timelines, creating a competitive advantage through service. - Tadzo Competitive Analysis, 2015

Spokane County

Spokane County’s Building and Planning department provides professional customer-oriented construction permitting services. There are no impact fees associated with Spokane County building permits, instead permit fees based on a cost recovery/fee for service methodology. A single point of contact is provided to coordinate throughout the application process, and “phased” permitting is available for those developments on a fast-track schedule. Same day inspection service is the standard, and web-based permit tracking software allows online inspection requests and real time inspection results.

How long will it take to get the permit?
If application and plans are complete, addressing all county and state requirements, approvals for new commercial construction can usually be completed within 35 days. Special designs and major commercial projects may require additional review time. In the case of commercial remodels or alterations, the complete application and approval process can be accomplished in shorter time frames.

Spokane County is actively pursuing advanced manufacturing opportunities and the expansion of regional warehouse/distribution facilities. The County is an active partner in the Air Spokane initiative to expand the current inventory of Aerospace companies and increase business volume for existing companies. The County continues to work with agri-business industries and seeks to bring new ones to the area, like HighLine Grain, LLC. which is in the midst of a $26.4 million project on the West Plains that will include an eight-pack grain elevator, grain shipment terminal, and rail loading facility. Spokane County also works with companies to repurpose existing facilities/business sites, such as the former Kaiser Aluminum plant in north Spokane County that will soon become a 170-acre business and industrial park.

Spokane County is ready and eager to work with you!

City of Spokane

The City of Spokane makes a concerted effort to meet the needs of their customers. Shorter turnaround times in permitting were one of our identified goals as well as a need to have a consistent, predictable, and reliable permitting process. The permitting team worked to develop solutions to eliminate the obstacles and implement the changes needed to meet the customers’ requirement to be consistent, predictable, and reliable.

How long will it take to get the permit?
Full route permits, like new commercial buildings, are given a goal of a 30 day turnaround time. The City has consistently been at or below the 30 day time frame within the last 9 months. Over the last 12 months, the City has also met a 10 day permit turnaround goal for short route permits, such as single family residential and commercial tenant improvement projects.

“We have seen the City’s employees continuing to take actions to reduce defects, remove activities which provide no value and improve customer satisfaction with the commercial building permit process. Additional opportunities have been created for better communication with our customers as well. We want to ensure that we are hearing the voice of our customers and are always striving to meet their needs.” - Mayor Condon

Spokane Valley

The City of Spokane Valley takes pride in their “friendly permitting” and has developed a streamlined permit process that fits the needs of local business owners and citizens. The city regularly evaluates their regulations to ensure they are sensible and use a common sense approach. To save their applicants time, they offer highly-trained, multi-disciplined technical review staff to help clients navigate the permit process and provide innovative solutions. To save money for applicants, the City ensures that permit fees are kept low and there are no impact fees.

All commercial projects, including new development, are assigned a 10-business day target review date; however, many permits for commercial and residential projects are issued over the counter thanks to skilled, International Code Council-certified, front counter staff.

With genuine enthusiasm and a goal to exceed your expectations, the City of Spokane Valley will get you through the process rapidly!

Liberty Lake

Liberty Lake meets the business needs of developers and contractors by being responsive, efficient in meeting timelines and deadlines, and listening to feedback for continuous improvement of services.

Timing depends on the complexity of the project and the cooperation of the applicant, but the general range is 6-8 weeks. However, the City strives to meet applicant needs and always processes permits in a very efficient manner.

In Liberty Lake we strive to excel in meeting the business needs of our Developers and Contractors. At City Hall our goal is to be responsive and efficient in meeting timelines and deadlines while exploring ways for continuous improvement. Our eyes and ears are always open for feedback on how we can improve the services we provide. - Mayor Steve Peterson

Cheney

Cheney has a nationally-certified, 40 acre industrial park which is just 15 minutes from the airport and qualifies for SBA HUB Zone. SEPA approvals are in place, so permitting and plan approval can be completed in 30 days or less.

The City of Cheney’s Planning and Building Departments offers a pre-development process for developers and owners to get information about permitting requirements and processes prior to plan intake.

Airway Heights

The City of Airway Heights invites you to locate your business in Airway Heights. The city has plentiful, affordable, developable land. The cost of doing business is lower and they have a “get it done” local government attitude.

The Airway Heights City Council shares a unified vision and goal to grow business in and around the City. - Mayor Patrick Rushing

Deer Park

Deer Park, in north Spokane, is home to the 144 acre Deer Park Industrial and Business Park. Adjacent to the Deer Park Airport, privately owned parcels ranging up to 15 acres are available. In the City of Deer Park, one person will see your project through the permitting process from start to finish. Businesses appreciate the advantage of having a single point of contact.

GSI’s Economic Development activities would not be possible without the support of our significant partner, Spokane County; other municipal investors- City of Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Cheney, Airway Heights, Deer Park; and Washington State Department of Commerce.